Stunningly clean work. I really like your modern design asthetic. I'd say Ikea-esque and be 100% meaning a compliment.

Thanks! I will take it!

Schmitti:

There will be 4 visible plugs (dowels) on each frame, only one visible at a time from any given angle. The screw holes all over the top will be hidden by the cherry handrail. I try to build with no visible or detectable hardware whenever possible…to eliminate the 4 plugs would have added 2-4 hours per panel.

Plugs are the way to go. There are times you can't get away from using them. The only other option would have been screwing the top rail on from the under side. But that is Back seat Carpentry

Again, very good work Mar! I need to get some bench time in soon.... not working on any wood projects is driving me nuts. I have some simple plug and play cabinetry work coming up in the kitchen but nothing major right now.

And did you buy the maple stock or plane it to thickness yourself? Decent 4 square hardwood always seems so hard to find.

Thanks Azzy!

The Cherry hasn't been finished quited yet - It will get 1 more coat of stain, then 3 coats + of Varathane with wet-sanding in between... should come out nice and glass-like.

The Maple newel posts and ballusteres were bought as you see them, and only needed to be sanded to a finish-grade quality. The rest of the maple is actually laminated plywood with maple veneer (don't ever tell!) The reasons for doing it with the ply were 1: made entirely of hardwood the shrink/warp factor could ruin the railings over time. The laminated ply will not change shape or warp in any significant way. 2: Ease of work, WAAAY hard to work with maple...of all the hardwoods we have the most love-hate relationship: maple is like that crazy girl you love to drill and screw but she is a pain to cut, hard on your blades, and unforgiving of your mistakes.

I should hopefully finish this weekend. I will (as in love with myself as I am) post a final pic.

Mar.. got your pm last night about this but didn't get a chance to peak. Very very nice.

With the varathane.... is that something you can thin (like an oil based spar varnish) or is it just a poly with straight application. If you do have the ability to thin it, apply the first coat with no thinner, the next coat do a half and half and the last coat (you could go more but it would take crazy time) do 3 thinner to 1 varnish. Sand between coats as normal.

My uncle uses this trick on boats (except with many layers) and the finish comes out very nice. I regret not using this method on a bookcase I made a number of years ago.